The Wheldon and Wilson families were bonded long before loss entered their worlds. Dan Wheldon and Justin Wilson, sons of England, were born just over a month apart in in 1978, raced together on their way up the U.K.'s open-wheel ladder, landed in America's Indy car series within a year of each other, and became part of our fabric.

Dan, in the Indy Racing League, and Justin, in the Champ Car series, would win major races, become stars, become husbands and fathers, and both would lose their lives in tragic circumstances. For Susie Wheldon, carrying on after Dan's death in 2011 was as hard as you'd expect, and with two young sons to care for, there was no choice but to focus her energies on the boys.

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In memory of Dan, and his late mother who was stricken by Alzheimer's disease, Susie Wheldon started the Dan Wheldon Memorial Pro-Am Karting Race in 2012 where all proceeds are sent to assist Alzheimer's research.

Julia Wilson lost her husband Justin last month, and like Wheldon, she has two young children. Having been through the same pain and loss, the fear, and concerns about the future, Wheldon reached out to offer support for Julia and her girls. Their husbands were beloved figures in the sport, and with one widow now helping the other, it's safe to say the women who are tasked with continuing on are just as incredible.

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"Someone said after Dan passed that when something like this happens, the racing community gets pretty small and everybody really bands together," Wheldon said. "I saw it with Dan, and to tell you the truth, at first I wanted to remove myself a little bit from the situation with Justin because it reminded me too much of what I went through with Dan."

"But then I remembered feeling helpless when I went through it, and I wanted to help in any way I could. I just want to help Julia and her family and pay it forward. It's a chance to pass on the goodness that was given to me."

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As an IndyCar champion and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, Dan Wheldon's achievements in IndyCar racing were matched by financial windfalls. Wilson—despite his achievements and regard as one of the best in the sport, was not as fortunate to earn as much throughout his career.

"It's now called the Dan Wheldon Memorial Pro-Am Karting Race Honoring Justin Wilson, and it's this Saturday in New Castle, near Indianapolis," she explained. "Sponsors can purchase teams for $9800 dollars, in honor of Dan's Indy 500-winning car number, and Target for example, will buy a team, then have [reigning IndyCar champion and Wheldon's former teammate] Scott Dixon drive with them, and it's a lot of fun where we have a karting endurance race, professional drivers and businessmen come together, and we raise money for two good causes."

Drivers might be the most competitive people in the world during a race (and not necessarily best friends after), but the sense of family within the racing community is second to none. The outpouring of support for the Wilsons from all over the globe shows that there aren't distinctions between NASCAR or F1 or IndyCar drivers, they are all racers.